Norzagaray cited for student literacy

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2 have cited the improvement of student literacy in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Through targeted interventions, smaller class size and support from the local government, the schools proved that the country’s learning crisis can be addressed effectively, the agencies said.

Data showed that since 2023, the local government of Norzagaray has been initiating Project BRIGHT or BRIdging Gaps through Helpful Tools, a collaboration among school administrators, teachers, parents and local officials.

The program aims to improve literacy among Grade 1 to 3 pupils and counter the result of the  2022 Program for International Student Assessment or PISA, which showed that 75 percent of Filipino students performed poorly in core subjects, as well as of a 2022 World Bank study that showed 91 percent of 10-year-old Filipino children cannot read simple text.

“We are inspired by the success of Norzagaray, which showed that every Filipino student can read and achieve their full potential. Schools we visited in Norzagaray proved that with determined school leaders and teachers, strong community support and a formidable partnership with the LGU, we can successfully address illiteracy and secure a strong foundation of learning for our students,” EDCOM 2 executive director Karol Mark Yee said.

DepEd’s Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment highlighted the remarkable progress of these Grade 1 to 3 pupils.

The School District Office of Bulacan posted an average progress score of 23.72 percent in improving students’ reading profiles during the 2024-2025 school year, surpassing the national average of 20 percent.

Among schools in Norzagaray visited by the DepEd and EDCOM 2 are the North Hills Village Elementary School, which obtained a 61.6 percent progress score, followed by the FVR Phase 3 Elementary School with 52.7 and the Norzagaray Elementary School with 47.1 percent.